📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 16:13
What does 1 Chronicles 16:13 mean?
"you offspring of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones."
— 1 Chronicles 16:13 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
Remember his marvelous works that he has done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth,
you offspring of Israel his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is Yahweh our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
Remember his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations,
the covenant which he made with Abraham, his oath to Isaac.
Explanation
First Chronicles 16:13 is part of a song of thanksgiving that David composed and gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites to sing when the Ark of the Covenant was finally brought into Jerusalem. In plain language, the verse is a direct address to the people of Israel, reminding them of their identity: they are the descendants of the man Israel (also called Jacob), who served God faithfully, and they are the specific people whom God chose out of all the nations of the earth. The verse functions almost like a name-check, calling the congregation to remember who they are before recounting all that God has done for them.
The context is the historic moment described in 1 Chronicles 15-16, when David, now firmly established as king, brings the Ark—the symbol of God's presence—into the capital city with great celebration, sacrifice, and music. This chapter of Chronicles was written (compiled) after the Babylonian exile, likely to remind the returned Jewish community of their heritage of worship, priesthood, and
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